Chapter 545 - 323: It’s Different When You Have the Emperor’s Backing

Chapter 545: Chapter 323: It’s Different When You Have the Emperor’s Backing

Palace maids were released to marry once they came of age, but eunuchs were different. They were men without roots; what could they do outside the palace? Thus, they served in the palace for life, only leaving to retire in their old age.

This led to different attitudes toward their duties between eunuchs and palace maids. The maids themselves were of two kinds: those like Xiangxue, who would be released at a certain age, and those like Nanny Yu, who could attain the position of a female official, win their master’s favor, and serve them for life.

These different positions and futures cultivated distinct mindsets among the palace attendants. Ordinary palace maids of the type to be released upon reaching a certain age generally focused on simply surviving until they could safely leave the palace. As such, they tried to be diplomatic and stay on everyone’s good side, avoiding offending anyone lest someone try to sabotage them upon their departure.

It was different for those who achieved the rank of female official. Their fates were inextricably tied to their masters, so they served with utmost devotion. Only then could they receive their master’s grace and protection upon leaving the palace in their old age, allowing them to retire with honor and dignity.

The eunuchs were yet another case. Their status in the palace was low, and with their roots severed and lineages ended, their ranks included men of every possible disposition. Even the three General Managers who served the Emperor each had his own distinct personality.

These people were now the absolute focus of Yun Zhao’s attention. To completely dismantle the networks others had woven throughout the palace, she had to start with them. There might even be an unexpected windfall.

Anshun and Zhang Maoquan were more than enough to handle this task. Zhang Maoquan was now serving her even more diligently than before. Song Yunzhao mulled it over. ’It must have something to do with Xu Sixi earning merit for saving the Emperor.’

In the past, Xu Sixi couldn’t compare to Zhang Maoquan, but now... that was no longer a certainty.

’Zhang Maoquan sees that things are not looking good for his side and wants to find himself an exit strategy. And now that I’ve just given birth to the Eldest Prince, he wants to pledge his allegiance to a new master.’

Anshun, though loyal and capable, still lacked Zhang Maoquan’s experience and cunning. Song Yunzhao decided to observe a while longer. If Zhang Maoquan was truly determined to stay with her, she would assign Anshun to Feng Ze. That way, when Feng Ze was a bit older, Anshun could be put to use handling matters outside the palace.

This assignment was also a test for Zhang Maoquan. She would see how he chose to prove his worth.

Consort Shu’s negotiations with the Six Departments did not go smoothly. The outcome was just as Yun Zhao had predicted: the Six Departments insisted on getting involved. This time, however, Consort Shu stood her ground, permitting them only to accompany and observe, but not to interfere.

The disagreement left both sides disgruntled. Consort Shu wore a thunderous expression, and Song Yunzhao noted that Yan Yu’s—Princess Consort Wan’s—complexion was not much better.

But she didn’t get involved in the affair between Consort Shu and the Six Departments. Once she obtained the registers from Consort Shu, she set her plan in motion.

The first group to be selected was the old, weak, sick, and disabled. The second group consisted of those with a history of being punished. Only in the third group would it be the turn of those who served the masters of the various palaces and met the criteria for dismissal.

Dismissing the first group of palace attendants caused little stir. Their circumstances in the palace were already dire; they had to perform their duties while dragging their ailing bodies. Without a patron, they could only wait for death, at which point they would be wrapped in a straw mat, tossed into a mass grave, and their lives would be over.

Song Yunzhao was silent for a long moment after hearing Zhang Maoquan’s report. She knew of the cruelty of ancient dynasties, but to face it so directly... she still found it hard to bear.

So, she proposed to Consort Shu and Princess Consort Wan that they give the dismissed attendants some dismissal silver, to help them live out the rest of their days after leaving the palace.

These people had spent their entire lives in the palace; they all had their own silver for personal use. If the palace provided a bit more, as long as they weren’t extravagant, they could live out their days and afford a peaceful burial.

On this amount, the three concubines had differing opinions. Princess Consort Wan suggested one hundred taels of silver. Consort Shu mocked her, saying she didn’t run a household and had no idea about the cost of living. One hundred taels per person? With several hundred people being sent away, that would amount to tens of thousands of taels of silver. Who was going to pay for that?

Princess Consort Wan fell silent. In any case, she couldn’t afford it.

Consort Shu could probably scrape the money together, but why should she be the one to pay for a bunch of servants?

Previously, Song Yunzhao wouldn’t have been able to afford it, but now, she actually could. Still, she couldn’t be the one to pay. If she provided the silver out of the kindness of her heart, she feared she would only be sowing the seeds of future trouble for herself.

"What do my two sisters think of fifty taels?" Song Yunzhao suggested. She figured that as a compromise, she could probably get the funds approved if she submitted a memorial to the throne.

Consort Shu shot Yun Zhao a glare. "Fifty taels would still amount to twenty or thirty thousand taels of silver. I think you’re just afraid the Empress Dowager won’t have any leverage over you. In my opinion, thirty taels is more than enough. Besides, these people already have some savings from their time here. Too much money isn’t necessarily a good thing for them."

To them, one hundred taels of silver was nothing, but for the common folk outside, a whole year of hard labor might not even yield two or three taels in savings.

Song Yunzhao understood the serious implications. She was surprised that Consort Shu had considered these points and nodded. "I agree with what Sister Shu says."

Princess Consort Wan, who had her head in the clouds, felt the other two were being too harsh. Unhappy, she simply stood up and left.

’What could thirty taels of silver even do?’ In her eyes, it wasn’t even enough to cover the cost of hosting two banquets in the palace.

Consort Shu was so furious she nearly stomped her foot. She looked at Song Yunzhao and said sarcastically, "The great scholar is different from us common folk. She has the heart of a Bodhisattva."

Song Yunzhao often found she had nothing to say to Princess Consort Wan precisely because their dispositions were so different. ’I’m just a worldly person, after all.’

"Let her go. The matter is settled. She doesn’t even think about how in past years, these people would have been fleeced for even ten taels of silver, let alone thirty." Consort Shu’s heart pounded with rage. After her outburst, seeing Song Yunzhao’s completely unperturbed expression only made her more incensed. "Aren’t you angry?"

Song Yunzhao shook her head. "I’ve long been familiar with Princess Consort Wan’s temperament. She bears no actual malice; she simply doesn’t understand the implications. That being the case, why get angry? Even if you are furious, she won’t pay it any mind. You’ll only make yourself ill, and what’s the point in that?"

Consort Shu considered this and realized it made sense. Suppressing her anger, she looked at Song Yunzhao and added, "As for the silver, you can figure it out yourself. I, for one, can’t do anything about it."

Song Yunzhao was at a loss for words.

Seeing the look on Song Yunzhao’s face, Consort Shu instantly felt a sense of satisfaction. ’So much for taking the high road,’ she thought. ’Anyone can learn to do that!’

This time, Song Yunzhao did not refuse. She had to take on the responsibilities that were hers to bear. Only by accomplishing what others could not would she prove her capabilities. This was the very foundation of her position in the palace—in other words, it was a way to establish her authority.

Song Yunzhao agreed without hesitation, which made Consort Shu feel a pang of jealousy. ’It really is different when you have the Emperor’s backing.’

"This first list of names that was submitted—has Sister Shu reviewed it? Do you see anything that needs to be changed?" Song Yunzhao asked, flipping through the register in her hands.

Consort Shu glanced at it and spoke dismissively, "These people were left to languish in the palace because no one ever bothered with them. Anyone who has fallen to such a state has long since been discarded as a pawn by someone else. They’ll be thrilled to get a sum of silver and leave."

"Then among these discarded pawns," Song Yunzhao said, looking at Consort Shu with a sweet smile, "do you think there are any we might be able to use?"